As we struggle with each and every choice we have to make about this new house, we wonder if it wouldn't have been easier to just buy ready-made... There's just so much to decide and so much to check and compare; we're not always sure we're making the right selections! And we're no architects or interior decorators, plus we've got this little problem: everything in Japan is in Japanese! Yes, of course, it's to be expected, but getting by in everyday life in Japanese and understanding the fine print on bank loans and bathroom unit options is not the same thing!
Let's just say that it's been really challenging to go over every detail of estimates and plans; we've had to rely on our architects a lot for things that are usually a given for Japanese readers.
Then, there are also differences between what we'd like to get (usually things we enjoy back home) and what we can actually get our hands on here in Japan. Take the kitchen sink for instance. For the past 10 years, we've dreaded that day of the week when we had to change the little bag that hangs from the sink basket (large basket, by the way). The sink we have has a huge hole just like this one, where a basket is fitted to catch detritus.
But back home, we're used to this type of sink, which I've seen at Ikea, and which is so much easier to clean. You might have noticed a general theme in this blog: we prefer low maintenance items that require minimum cleaning. It's not that we don't enjoy cleaning, but moderation is the operative word here... Anyway, let's hope we can have this type of sink instead of the usual Japanese-style sink. If that doesn't work, I guess we'll have to do with a slightly upgraded model we've been shown that has a smaller basket that doesn't require the nylon bags... 
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